To be accepted

A few years ago when I started my job at Church, I told Kate I hadn’t laughed this hard in a long time.   She looked at me bewildered and said, “In and office full of Catholics?”    I reminded her she grew up in a house full of Catholics and we had shared many laughs in her years.   

This staff is completely unique.   It’s a one of a kind environment where everyone is supported and picked on at the same time.  And we laugh.   We laugh often and sometimes at ourselves and sometimes at each other.  

There was a time in my life when all I wanted was to be accepted.  Actually there many times I wanted to be accepted.   

Joe and I married and I moved to Massachusetts and quickly was pregnant.   For a long time Liz was my best companion.   I joined every club.  I tried different groups but I just didn’t find what I was looking for.  I put myself out there in so many years ways.   

Eventually that started to turn but it took years.   One of those places I found acceptance was Church.   It took more than just going to Mass.   Once again it was putting myself out there.   I am so grateful for the friends I have gathered along the past 25 years.  They mean everything to me.  
But one place I have truly come to find myself is through church.    It happened with friends at my other parish, the one my kids grew up in and received their Sacraments in. We have friends their that can never be replaced.   They were among the first I felt safe to truly be me.   I could put myself out there and still be accepted.  

And now in my current parish, I have never experienced such love and acceptance.   So many have lived and worshipped in this parish for decades, for generations.   Yet, they accepted me immediately and completely.   

We laugh so hard, we tease and we love.  We accept each other faults and all.   We love each other’s faults.    It is the most unbelievable gift to be accepted with all of your strengths but even more with all of your weaknesses.  There is no reason to pretend.   There is no reason to but on a false front.   I can be me and know I am loved and accepted.    And I owe God everything for this.